Enhanced dynamic host configuration protocol (dhcp)

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods described herein are configured for receiving a network parameter request (e.g., a DHCPv6) request from a specific client and processing the network parameter request to facilitate allocation, assignment, etc., of one or more specific network parameters to the specific client based on a unique identifier (e.g., MAC address) of the specific client. In some embodiments, the systems, apparatus and methods described herein are further configured for processing and relaying the network parameter request to a network parameter server (e.g., DHCPv6 server) to enable one or more specific network parameters to be assigned to the specific client.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 an input module configured to receive a network parameter request, wherein the request includes a unique identifier of a client device;   a processor configured to generate a data structure to send the network parameter request, wherein the data structure includes a value set to the unique identifier of the client device; and   an output module configured to send the data structure to a network parameter server.   
     
     
         2 . The device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the network parameter request is a dynamic host control protocol version 6 (DHCPv6) request. 
     
     
         3 . The device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the device is a relay agent. 
     
     
         4 . The device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the data structure is an envelope. 
     
     
         5 . The device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the value is associated with a Subscriber-identifier (ID) parameter of the data structure. 
     
     
         6 . The device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier of the client device is a media access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         7 . The device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a response to the data structure, and wherein the data structure includes a network parameter associated with the unique identifier of the client device. 
     
     
         8 . A device comprising:
 an input module configured to receive a dynamic host control protocol version 6 (DHCPv6) request, wherein the DHCPv6 request includes a unique identifier of a client device;   a processor configured to generate an envelope data structure configured for sending the network parameter request to a network parameter server, wherein the envelope data structure includes a parameter associated with the unique identifier of the client device; and   an output module configured to send the data structure to the network parameter server.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier of the client device is a media access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the parameter is a Subscriber-identifier (ID) parameter of the envelope data structure. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the envelope data structure includes a unique identifier of the device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the parameter associated with the unique identifier of the client device is in a clear text format. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a response to the envelope data structure, and wherein the response includes a network parameter associated with the unique identifier of the client device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the network parameter associated with the unique identifier of the client device is an Internet Protocol (IP) address. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a client device;   a dynamic host control protocol version 6 (DHCPv6) server; and   a relay device comprising:
 a request receiving module configured for receiving a network parameter request, wherein the network parameter request includes a unique device identifier, and wherein the network parameter request is a DHCPv6 request; 
 a data structure module configured for generating a data structure including the unique client identifier; and 
 a communication module configured for sending the data structure. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the relay device is configured to relay the DHCPv6 request. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the unique device identifier is a media access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the unique device identifier is associated with a Subscriber-identifier (ID) of the data structure. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the communication module is configured for sending the data structure to the DHCPv6 server. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the communication module is configured for sending a response from the DHCPv6 server to the client device, and wherein the client device is associated with the unique device identifier.